Flooding in Georgia

On this page you learn what types of flooding are typical in Georgia and how do you protect yourself, your family and your home. You will also find out more about significant Georgia floods. Finally, you'll find links to NWS offices that provide forecast and safety information for Georgia, as well as links to our partners who play a significant role in keeping you safe.

Significant Georgia Floods

Tropical Storm Alberto Flood, July 1994

Central and Southwest Georgia
Number of Fatalities: 33 (31 in Georgia, 2 in Alabama)
Number of Injuries: Unknown
Dollar Damage: $750 Million in Georgia, Alabama and Florida

1938 Whitestone Flood, April 7, 1938

An extreme flash flood killed 13 people in Whitestone when a general store near the Talona Creek was washed off its foundation. Two children from the Fonder family were staying with the Conner family at the store, which was also their home. It was the first night the Fonder children had spent the night away from home. This event inspired the following poem from a Pickens County resident:

The Whitestone Flood,
By Danny Attaway

“May the recent rains and falling timber
Make us all reflect, look back and remember
Upon a fearful night back in 38
When the Conner family met their fate
Mother Father Sons and Daughters
Were all swept away by the swirling waters

The parents of two with the Conners that night
Awoke to the rain and a terrible sight
The creek between them rose beyond belief
As they stood there helpless and took on their grief
Their attempts to rescue were all in vain
As the Conner house crumbled in the pouring rain

At daylight they stood in the wake of the flood
Everyone searched through the rubble and mud
For the 13 souls could not be ignored
As they were ushered in the presence of our almighty Lord
The waters rose in the night as they slept
13 people perished, and all of town wept”

Record Flooding in Rome, Georgia, March 30-April 2, 1886

Rainfall amounts of 6-12 inches occurred over northwest Georgia
in a 3-day period. This caused record flooding on the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers that merge to form the Coosa River. Flood waters up to 11 feet deep covered portions of Broad Street in Rome with extensive record flooding. The stage height reached 40.3 feet. Flood stage is 25 feet. This record flood and another major flood in 1892 prompted the citizens of Rome to raise the town by 12 feet. This was accomplished by bringing in thousands of wagon loads of dirt. The current basement level of historic buildings were once at ground level. Also an extensive levee system was constructed in the 1920s on the right banks of the Oostanaula and Coosa Rivers to protect the section of Rome where the people lived at the time.

Chattahoochee River Flood, December 8-12, 1919

The event brought rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches over a 3-day period primarily oriented over the Chattahoochee River basin from Columbus to Norcross caused extensive flooding up to 3 miles from the river channel. It is notable the flood crests established with this major flood remain as the highest or second highest flood crests on record from Norcross through Atlanta, Whitesburg and West Point to Columbus. In general, flooding around 15 feet above the respective flood stages occurred along the Chattahoochee River. The exception was Columbus where the crest was around 18 feet above flood stage. This also caused the tributary creeks to have record flooding such as Peachtree Creek.
C. F. von Herrmann, Meteorologist, at the Atlanta station of the Weather Bureau wrote a very detailed description of the flood in the following web link:

Flash Flooding

Flash flooding is a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within 6 hours of the causative event (i.e., intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). More information...

River Flooding

River flooding occurs when river levels rise and overflow their banks or the edges of their main channel and inundate areas that are normally dry. More information...

Tropical Systems and Coastal Flooding

Wildfires burn away the vegetation of an area, leaving behind bare ground that tends to repel water. When rain falls, it runs off a burn scar towards a low lying area, sometimes carrying branches, soil and other debris along with it. Without vegetation to hold the soil in place, flooding can produce mud and debris flows. More information...

Dam Breaks/Levee Failure

A break or failure can occur with little to no warning. Most often they are caused by water overtopping the structure, excessive seepage through the surrounding ground, or a structural failure. More information...